Today's Opinions

Another overdose, again? This seems to be the question you hear over and over lately.
In all my almost 40 years, I have never recalled seeing or hearing of this many people dying from an apparent overdose within a year or so in our area alone. The ages seem to range from the teens to the 50s for the most part.
It’s no longer that someone died from a gang-related shooting, but from this. I work at The Lancaster News and in my position I deal with obituaries and have to enter these people’s names into our computer system.

I will be voting “yes” for the town of Indian Land.
I have no connection to the organizers on either side of this issue. But to me, the decision is fairly simple.
We need representation on decisions that affect our community. At present, we are out-voted on the Lancaster County Council, usually 5-2, and we will not gain a majority even if we pick up another Indian Land seat after the next census. There is no way in the foreseeable future to have any semblance of being adequately represented on the council.

Fifty years ago today, Rep. Rankin Fite, speaker of the Alabama House, placed the first 911 call from the Haleyville City Hall.
From that small beginning, 911 technology has continually evolved, becoming an essential part of public safety across America. Each advancement has improved our nation’s ability to get faster, more reliable information to first responders so they can do their job of saving lives and property.

In order to establish an area for incorporation, S.C. law states that there must be a density of 300 people per square mile before incorporation can even be proposed.
When you have subdivisions such as Sun City, Walnut Creek and Treetops, you can expand the area you are trying to incorporate much farther south because of the density in those neighborhoods.

In the spring of 2004, living in Charlotte, I found myself in a serious mid-life crisis. I prayed for change, a new walk, with new friends that loved and cared about God.
While I hoped that my prayers were heard, my father offered an invitation for me to move to Lancaster, attend his church and start afresh.
I thought: Lancaster, South Carolina? Not on your life.
But, after more praying and another few weeks of hell, I decided to take him up on his offer. You see, I’d told God that whatever offer he had for me, I would accept it no matter where it was.

On Saturday, Feb. 10, my wife and I took a ride down to the southern end of Indian Land. Since we live near 160 and 521, we pretty much covered the length of Indian Land.
We drove around the area up and down a number of side roads to get a feel of what Voters for a Town of Indian Land wants to incorporate. It is appalling the amount of farmland they want to include in the town.
We understand it is about 40 square miles of the 58 square miles they want to include, but you don’t realize how much this is until you see it.

This letter is to the families of Bobby Parker Sr. and Mayor John Howard.
To the Parker family, know that you are in my prayers. God bless you all in this time of loss.
To the family of Mayor Howard, may God put angels around him and grant him a full and speedy recovery. He is in my prayers also.

The Kershaw Community Park Council is partnering with the town of Kershaw to build a custom-designed historic “destination playground” within Stevens Park.
Our community recently suffered the loss of our very special playground, and the impact of that loss has been hugely significant for those residing in the southern end of Lancaster County.